It was only later that Karisma remembered the man, and it wasn't really that she had a short term memory- really! Snapping her fingers, and causing the children to jump up with surprise, she grinned a rather sheepish grin.

"I met a man yesterday." she informed them.

"Of course." a child said with a puzzled expression on his face. "You always meet people."

"But this was different." she patiently pointed out.

"Oh?" leaning against the fence, a grubby looking kid wiped his hands on his shirt, causing her to frown.

"He was a rider." getting up and rubbing at the stain, she shook her head. "Your mother's going to raise a dead dragon when she sees that."

"A rider?" he grinned a cheeky grin. "That's why I do it, silly." but he was distracted by what she had said before. "A real rider?"

Like most village children who lived in the corner's of the Vella Crean, while they were clearly aware of the existance of dragons and riders, it was rare that they say anyone other than the occasional shadow above the clouds. They were an untouched part of the country, civilized but kept away from the dragoners world by some invisible agreement. While the adults may have approved of this, everyone else felt a sense of frustration at the thought.

"Did you see his dragon?" his eyes seemed so wide, that Karisma was afraid they would pop out of his head.

"No, silly." she giggled then, and leaned back on the soft grass to look up into the sky. "We were at the market."

"Oh." clearly disappointed. "Then how do you know he was a rider?"

"Because, he said."

Karisma was one of those irritatingly trusting people who had everyone else groaning with disgust. She trusted people, to an extent where she seemed to be more than naive. Oh, she didn't believe in lies, silly... but you don't really know what's the truth then, do you? It was one of the reasons everyone was very careful with her, because anything they said with flippance, may occasionally be taken too seriously. Of course, it wasn't necesarily that they were caring about her- oh no, the town was too large for everyone to be too nice. Oh, it was that they were caring about themselves.
See, Karisma's father was a accounts keeper, who looked like a Black Smith. Tall, burly and dark haired, he would strike fear- especially to those who had known him as a child. The fact that he was an accounts keeper, and handled their accounts also meant that they were cautious around him. Who know what a crazed accounts keeper would do to someone who harmed his naive daughter?
So Karisma has always grown up protected, cherished but in that aloof manner that leaves her with the false feeling of independance.

Her mother had died at a very young age, nothing suspicious, nothing melodramatic. She had been awake one moment, and dead the neck. Rather harrowing for a child who had been playing peek a boo with her, and some considered that this mental trauma had left her so stubbornly... risiliant for so long. As a child, she had grown up with her father most of the time, the brother already having been old enough that he didn't really like spending time at home, and the younger sister young enough that her aunt had cared for her more like the true mother. Growing up with a special bond between father and daugher, they had been extremely close... still were really.


Still, that didn't mean she wasn't surprised when her father came home one day bearing a gift.

"For me?" she half squealed, half giggled in that soft almost breathy tone that had her father beaming. She was a delightful child, for she seemed to show her emotions exactly the way she felt them. While some considered this to be a bad thing... it wasn't, not really. The fact that her emotions were so honest, often had her more appreciated by people when she told them good things. Like now, for example. When she felt such joy, all knew that was real, that they weren't making anything up.

It was a fire lizard egg, and while some might not see it as so much, in a village like this, it was very important. Hard, rocking and acting rather like a miniture earth quake it rocked, causing them to both bolt back in fear.

"Where did you get it?" she whispered.

Her father grinned, shrugged an embarrsed shrug. "Oh, this rider was in town and he had two fire lizard eggs, coming to give them to his nephew." he shrugged. "But he decided one was enough, and so he gave the other to me." it was a polite lie, really. The truth was, he had actually ordered the egg from the Vella Crean a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday a rider had arrived with the egg, saying it was special and that it came from a place known as... Fall uss... or something like that. "Happy Early Birthday, princess."

For a moment, Karisma blinked once, and then grinned, realived some what that she hadn't forgotten her own birthday. "Daddy, thank you." getting up and embracing him, she didn't hear the noise, the squack or the chirp of hunger. But she did hear the...

"EXCUSE ME. I'm a HUNGRY FLIT. Would someone please FEED ME?"

The loud, brash, sassy masculine tone had them both yelp and look down, peering curiously to see a small black hatching watching them with a look of impatience in crimson eyes.

"Aren't flits supposed to be...silent?" she whispered to her father.

"Well, I'm SPECIAL." he sounded hurt, and pissed. "If you have a problem with that, I'll go find someone else then."

For some reason, instead of feeling scared,or angry, or anything negative Karisma felt amusement, and giggled. "Don't be silly." she soothed, and walked forewords, remembering the bowl of meat she carried with her. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

The black flitter only sniffed in reply.

The father frowned. From what he had heard about talking flits, it was more of a mental thing... and weren't all flits supposed to be born... well, like babies? As if sensing his thought, the black flitter aimed a truly nasty look at the standing father.

"I'm sorry I'm not cute." there was so much irony to his words, he sounded older than he was. "I'm just hungry, k?"

Karisma giggled. "You are adorable!"

This caused the black to preen.

"What are you called?"

Half way swallowing something, he mumbled a word but realized he could not be understood. Swallowing, he paused. "Doth." and then he truly grinned. "But if you want, you can call me special."


Karisma went absolutely everywhere with the damned flit, because that was what he was known as. No one quite knows why he's so impertinent, except for maybe Karisma herself. Still, it was a noticable improvement, especially with the way Karisma began to act. You see, Doth began to act like her double personality. He reminded her patiently -but rather sassily- of the things she forgot, spoke up for her and helped her out. People began to see this not only in a short term basis, but in a long term basis to a point where it seemed that Karisma began to grow... well, smarter. Like the naked thing, for instance. No one saw her running around naked any more, except for maybe the odd glimpses because Doth would always warn her when someone was coming, or would forbid her to step out of the house. She wouldn't be so forgetful, and she would appear to be more focused, more in control. Oh, it wasn't such a huge difference that she seemed to change- even  the ever exasperated flit couldn't stop this young woman from acting so naive all the time. But still, she ... well, improved.

"Karisma!" the black flit called from the sky, and flitted over to tug at her hair. "If you walk any slower, we're going to go back in time."

"Oh, you." ever cheerful, she merely grinned, giggling slighlty. "I didn't think flits could roll their eyes." she commented, causing the flit to perform to same self said action again.

"Well..."

"...you're special." Karisma quoted, and stuck out her tongue. "I know, I know."

Doth decided to ignore that, and instead sat on her shoulder. "You didn't forget, did you?" there was something anxious in his voice, for no matter how many times he might actually act like a brat, he wasn't-- not really. She nodded, and was about to answer they a tall figure collided into them.

"Hey, watch it you crazy moron!" the flit proceeded to swear rather well, causing Karisma's eyes to widen. While she might not know much about bodily functions in the way Doth talked about it, surely what he was suggesting was impossible?

"Sorry." the figure turned, and scowled slightly. "What have you been teaching your flit?" he demanded, causing her to yelp and jump back.

"Nothing." she protested, eyes widening at the thought that this man thought she would teach Doth how to swear... oh dear, the thought of it! "I only just learnt new words myself." her lip began to tremble, and sensing it Doth turned to her, nudging her with his cheek.

"Don't be silly." poking her then hard enough for her to glare at him, he shrugged, satisfied. "Well, watch it next time, okay?" he seemed unwilling to go into a spat with this man because of Karisma's feelings... but that didn't mean he forgave him. As he walked by, Karisma paused, before giggling.

"That's not nice, you know." her mood swings could be rapid and awe inspiring, except that they were usually in such positive scales that it didn't seem to matter.

"You mean he's not very nice." with a sniff, he curled his tail around her neck almost protectively, causing her to giggle again.


It was perhaps weeks later when commotion stirred at the small town.
It was very early in the morning, too early for some and so Karisma didn't understand what the commotion was about. Snuggling under her pillows and trying very hard to block out the noise of what ever it was, she almost missed the ear trumpeting screech of a dragon.
..
A dragon?!

Cursing that she was missing usch a spectacle -she's a quick learner, this one- and annoyed that Doth hadn't bothered to wake her up, she turned and spun out of the room, before realizing that it wouldn't do well to come out naked in front of riders. Running back on and throwing a large white shirt that trailed to her knees and buttoning it up as quickly as she could, the dark stain of Doth landed on her shoulder.

"I don't know what the big dela is." While Doth may not have seen a dragon before, he didn't seem particularly impressed.

"We never get them around here." there was awe in her voice, awe matched by everyone else as she crept forewords, standing next to a tall blonde youth. "What's happening?"

"A search." he whispered back quickly, smiling with appreciation at the view but still trying to keep his attention focused on what was happening. "I wasn't listening...but it's a search!" he pointed to the one or two girls and boys who were already lined up, and shrugged. "Seem's awfully random though, I don't think they even realize where they are." from the unusual designs however, she recognized the Vella Crean dragons and decided that it couldn't be that bad... could it?

"You there." Karisma turned and gave the youth a thumbs up sign for luck, to find him watching her with awe. "You, the one with the black flit. Who are you?"

"She's Karisma." Doth snapped back. "Don't be so rude."

Karisma's lips gaped open at the rudeness of her flit, and she turned. "Don't Doth." she said softly, for even now she was incapable of even hissing. "He's a rider."

"So? I'm a special flit." he sniffed. "He better remember that."

It was only then that she turned, smiling and ready with apologies that she recognized you. "Oh, it's you!" she almost squealed, and paused trying to remember. "Yolith's rider." see, she had a good memory...sometimes!"

The man smiled, recognizing her then and the egg. He knew Shy had done something to that Falas egg... oh, what he in trouble now. "Karisma." it took a while to remember her name, but he hadn't forgotten her. How could someone forget something so... odd?

The girl's head bobbed up and down as she smiled a pleased smile. "You remembered!" turning, she actually squealed when she saw the brown form next to him. "Is that Yolith?" she crooned. "Oh, aren't you beautiful..."

You can tell her she doesn't have to speak to me as if I'm some retard...the brown murmured to his rider, amused as he watched the girl. Still, his Pernese eyes swirled with pleasure.

You tell her yourself he shot back, causing the brown to chuckle. well, do you think she'll do?

For the dragon clutch? the dragon turned thoughtful, all professional. She's got good intentions, good opportunities and she shows promise... especially with that flit. Doth, isn't it? A fine breed of altered Falasian genetics... everyone seemed to know anything weird must come from Shy. But for a dragon? he paused. No... no....

J'been was slighlty disappointed, but he didn't let that show- not really. Oh...

But i think she'll make a good rider... the brown paused, thoughtfu and allowed some of the children to come up and pet him. I got it! suddenly, he stiffened, causing the children to jump back with yelps and laughter. A gryphon!

Yolith, isn't that being a bit...specist? he paused, thinking of the word. Racist, Sexist... yeah, it fit.

You haven't seen what a group of gryphons can do...he retorted. It's the rare one whose so damn smart.

J'been rolled his eyes. Well, he knew that he wouldn't be going on any ambassador programs to any Aerie in this life time...

Well?

Well what?

Aren't you going to ask her?

Oh... right. he was feeling kind of sheepish. "Karisma." he said warmly, knowing that the exchange hadn't taken long. "How would you like to come with me as a candidate?"

Her mouth dropped open. "Me?" she sounded surprised, and she would have flung her arms out except she knew then the shirt would ride up.

"She's be delighted." the crisp, delighted voice of Doth penetrated. "See? I told you I was special."

Flits. Eesh.

She didn't know what to expect, really. In reality, she was just a simple town girl. So when she arrived at this place and found these... things...

"They're what?" she was gawking, but she didn't care.

"Gryphons." When did Doth know everything?

"Why do they look so different?"

"Because." Karisma turned, and watched him shuffle. "Some scientific thing... can we go week now?" she tilted her head, fascinated. She giggled.

"They look so cute."

"I don't think some of them would appreciate hearing that." some one with a rather soft voice commented from behind. Turning then and with a ready smile pasted on her face, her eyes widened. Ooh, he was so pretty as well! Not that she would tell him, of course. He was so... white!

"Everyone enjoys being told that they look cute." her brows pursued together in something like a frown. "Don't they?"

He smiled. She seemed like a simpleton, but he had a glimpse of her mind. She was just... sweet. "I certainly wouldn't."

"But you are!" she burst out, and then blinked.

"Woah girl." Doth snickered. "I think you've insulted him."

"Have not." she stuck her tongue out at the flit, a rather immature gesture that had Engell blink, and then shake his head.

"I'm Lord Engell."

"Karisma."

The name was nice, and recognizing it his brow tilted up with an amused grin. Oh, so this was the one... a couple of hours ago, one of the candidates had come complaining to him, followed by another woman because of her sleeping habits. 'It's not that she's nude, that's so bad'. the candidate had said. 'But she walks around so much...' he had been curious to see her -aye, he's been accused of being lecherous... but he wasn't! That was someone elses job- but now that he had seen her, she seemed so...different.

"Welcome, Karisma." he smiled. "And good luck."